The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 75

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064

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discovery that they were congenial spirits, and a mutual friendship and respect sprang up between them, which soon resulted in Mr. Miller's appointment as one of the General's staff officers, with the rank of colonel in the Greek service.

It is not our purpose to follow Colonel Miller through the various hardships he endured through the next 2 years of that wild and bloody conflict, nor enumerate those feats of arms which seem so to have awakened the admiration of the Greeks, and caused him to be known among them by the peculiar name of The American Dare Devil. Let an instance or two, which we have had from his own lips, serve as a specimen of his many personal risks and escapes, as well as of his individual daring.

On one occasion, when he was stationed in command of a small band of soldiers in a walled garden, a few miles from Napoli, he suddenly discovered the place to be surrounded by a force of some thousand Turkish troops. Knowing that the instant the weakness of his band was discovered they would all be sacrificed on the spot, Col. Miller at once resolved on the des- perate expedient of a sally right into the mouth of the lion, and calling on his band to follow at his heels, he dashed out into the midst of the closely investing foe, firing his girdle full of pistols, and slash- ing about him with his sword as he went, with such fury as to astonish the Turks, who supposing, of course, the garden to be full of Greeks, about to scatter death among them from behind the walls, in- stantly became panic struck and fled.

Another instance of a similar character occurred in a different part of the peninsula, when Gen. Jarvis and Col. Miller, with a small force, being unexpectedly beset by a large body of Turkish cavalry, were wholly cut off from their companions, and, as their only chance of escaping with life, were compelled to run for a piece of woods at the top of a hill a fourth of a mile dis- tant. But this only resort came near prov- ing a fatal one. A large squad of the mounted fiends pursued them, and were all within pistol shot, while the woods were yet too far distant to be reached by them.

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They supposed there was but a moment more for them in this world ; but they re- solved that that moment should not be passed unimproved. They suddenly wheel- ed round, drew up their pieces, and fired directly into the faces of their pursuers, who, in surprise at the strange act, came to a dead halt, and the next instant turned and fled, doubtless believing that they would not take such a stand unless there lay concealed in the borders of the woods a force of their foes, from whom it was their wisdom to escape while they could.

The first of these instances we find in substance related in Post's Visits to Greece and Constantinople in 1827, and also in Dr. Howe's History of Greece, and the latter, not before named in history, is doubtless an equally veritable incident.

Besides the many personal encounters and skirmishes with the foes of Greece, of the character of those just described, Col. Miller was an active participant in several important engagements, in which his gal- lantry appears to have attracted favorable notice. Among these we find one hand- somely alluded to in the lately published volume of "Travels in Greece and Russia," by Bayard Taylor :

At the end of the Argive plain is the little village of Miles, where Ypsilanti gained a splendid victory over the troops of Ibrahim Pacha, and Col. Miller greatly distinguished himself.

But the most continuous, the hardest and most important of Col. Miller's mil- itary services in Greece were in the terri- ble twelve months' siege of the ill-fated Missolonghi, one of the most wealthy and populous towns of the Grecian peninsula. We have space only to give a general idea of the character of this siege ; and this idea will perhaps be the best given by a letter from Dr. Mayer, of whom we have before spoken, and who was one of the 130 per- sons perishing in the last defense of the place, written within three days before his death ; and in another letter from Colonel Miller himself to Edward Everett, after Missolonghi had fallen, and he had es- caped with the remnant of the besieged, as he has described, out of the city, but not out of danger :

DR. MAYER'S LETTER.

The labors which we have undergone, and a wound I have received in the shoul- der, which I am in expectation is one which will be my passport to eternity, have prevented me till now from bidding you my last adieus. We are reduced to feed on the most disgusting animals ; we are suffering horribly from hunger and thirst. Sickness adds much to the calamities that overwhelm us. More than 1740 of our brothers are dead. More than 100,000 bombs and balls, thrown by the enemy, have destroyed our bastions and our houses. We have been terribly distressed by cold, and we have suffered great want of food. Notwithstanding so many privations, it is a great and noble spectacle to witness the ardor and devotedness of the garrison. A few days more, and these brave men will be angelic spirits, who will accuse before God the indifference of christendom for a cause which is that of religion. All the Albanians who deserted from the standard of Reschid Pacha have now rallied under that of Ibrahim. In the name of all our brave men, among whom are Noto Bot- zaris, Travellas, Papodia Mautopolas, and myself, whom the government has ap- pointed generals to a body of its troops, I announce to you the resolution, sworn to before Heaven, to defend, foot by foot, the land of Missolonghi, and bury ourselves, without listening to any capitulation, under the ruins of this city. History will render us justice ; posterity will weep over our misfortunes. I am proud to think that the blood of a Swiss, of a child of William Tell, is about to mingle with that of the heroes of Greece. May the relation of the siege of Missolonghi, which I have written, survive me. I have made sev- eral copies of it. Cause this letter, dear S-, to be inserted in some public jour- nal.

This beautiful and touching letter to a friend has been preserved in the History of Greece. Col. Miller's letter, which was also embodied in the same history, is as follows :

NAPOLI DE ROMANIA, May 3, 1826.

EDWARD EVERETT :

Honored and Dear Friend :- It is with emotions not to be expressed, that I now attempt to give an account of the fall of Missolonghi, and the heart-rending situation of ill-fated Greece. Missolonghi fell into the hands of the Turks, eight days since, after a gallant defense of eleven months and a half. When we take into consider- ation the means of its defense, and the

he all ere

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overwhelming numbers that approached it by sea and land, there cannot be a doubt but that its resistance rivals anything of the kind either in ancient or modern times. The particulars of its fall are enough to draw tears from the most obdurate and un- feeling heart, and will bring into action the energies of the Christian world. if, in- deed, such a world can be said to exist. Pardon me, my dear sir; the agonies of my mind cause the expression; for who can believe, that, in an age like this, if there are Christians, infidels should be al- lowed to butcher an entire population?

Missolonghi contained over 8,000 in- habitants at the time of its surrender, or rather of its destruction. There were no more than 3,000 capable of bearing arms ; the rest were women and children. We were reduced to the last extremity for pro- visions, having eaten all the mules and horses which were in the place, when the gloomy inhabitants were cheered by the arrival of the Greek fleet; but alas ! the gallant Mianlis found the Turkish force too strong for his little squadron. After sustaining considerable loss in three at- tempts to break through the Turkish fleet, he retired. The inhabitants of Missolonghi were now driven to desperation. They knew of the unhappy fate of those who had been taken at Aurtolico, and of the out- rages the Arabs would commit if the place should capitulate. They took a horrid but glorious resolution of blowing into the air their wives, daughters and sons. I call it glorious, because the women desired it ; and there was no possible way of prevent- ing the Arabs from committing outrages upon the women and boys, if they once should get them into their power. They all assembled at the old Turkish Seraglio. Their husbands and brothers, after laying a train of powder, embraced them for the last time, then giving them matches, left them to set fire to the train. The men then prepared themselves for cutting their way through the Turkish camp, sword in hand. And out of the 3,000, only 1,000 are said to have escaped.

There is the greatest sorrow here, women beating their breasts, and asking every Frank they meet, "if all the Christian world has forsaken them?" I must close this hasty scrawl, for my heart is too full to write more. I lost all my articles of European clothing at Missolonghi. But this is nothing. If I am happy enough to escape, I shall go to Smyrna.

My regards to Mrs. Everett. I am thankful it is not for her to endure the dis- tress of the fair, but ill-fated daughters of Greece.

I am, dear sir, with due respect, your humble servant, J. P. MILLER.

This was the last of all systematic re- sistance the poor Greeks were able to make ; and they remained in their desolated country, a subdued, but not conquered people, till the Christian nations having been aroused, the naval victory at Navarino secured the independence of their country. But the people, in the meanwhile, were in a starving condition ; and Col. Miller, after lingering there till fall, came here to the United States to arouse his countrymen to the work of contributing for supplying of their wants. Arriving here in November, he lectured through most of the Northern and Middle States with that object ; but in Feb. 1827, while thus engaged, he was appointed by the N. Y. Greek Committee to the agency of going to Greece and su- perintending the distribution among the suffering inhabitants of that country of a cargo of provisions that had been already collected for them. He went, was gone about a year, and discharged his duty to the full satisfaction of the friends of Greece here, as the proofs, published with his journal by the Harpers of New York, after his return, abundantly make manifest. The aggregate value of the provisions and clothing distributed by him in Greece wàs over $75,000. Yet it was found to be well for the beneficiaries that he could act both in the character of almoner and soldier with equal efficiency. For, when he ar- rived in Greece, he was beset by sharpers and mercenary villains of all kinds, who insolently demanded portions of his cargo in despite all his judicious rules for dis- tribution ; and in one instance a scheme was laid to get possession of his whole store, and it would probably have been successful, as well as the less bold attempts of the kind, but for the decisive stand and personal intrepidity of Col. Miller, who, on such occasions, would throw off the character of the almoner as quick as the Quaker did his coat, draw sword and pistols, and drive the lying knaves from his pres- ence.

Among the things which were destined to become permanent remembrancers of Col. Miller's expedition to Greece, was the adoption and education of a Greek

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orphan boy, Lucas Miltiades, who, after having received through his childhood and youth from the Colonel all the privileges and affectionate care and kindness which a father could have bestowed, removed West soon after reaching his majority. And Lucas Miltiades Miller has now become, through the advantages thus received, and his own capacity, energy and enterprise, one of the most respected, wealthy and in- fluential citizens of Wisconsin.

Lucas M. was the younger of two broth- ers brought to this country by Col. Miller and Dr. Russ, the intimate friend of the former, and one of the most cultivated, noble and efficient of all his compatriots in the Greek Revolution.

Another momento was what now should be considered an antiquarian relic of great interest-nothing less than the veritable sword which Lord Bryon wore in his Greek campaign. Lord Bryon gave this sword to a young Greek named Loukas, a Cap- tain in his legion, who afterwards was shot dead in a sortie from the Acropolis at Ath- ens; and being found with his sword knotted to his wrist, was carried into the fortress. When the sword and his clothing were sold for the benefit of his sisters by the English Consul of Poros, who was re- quested to take charge of the effects of the deceased, Col. Miller, being present at the sale, purchased the sword and brought it home on his second return. He loaned it to a Mr. Castanis, a native Greek lecturer, by whom it was carried back to Greece, and for a long time was supposed to be lost. But when, a few years since, Col. Miller's daughter, who in the meantime had grown to womanhood and married Mr. Abijah Keith, of Montpelier, visited Greece with her husband, and while there receiv- ing the flattering attentions of the many who called on her in manifestation of their gratitude for what her father had once done for them, for their relatives and for their country, she learned the whereabouts of Mr. Castanis and this sword, and soon recovered it. And being at the house of the now celebrated George Finlay, of Athens, known not only as Lord Byron's early British associate in Greece, but as

the learned antiquarian, and historian of the different eras of Greece, he at once identified the sword, and gave Mr. and Mrs. Keith the following certificate, which we copy from the original in their posses- sion :

Mr. and Mrs. Keith have just shown me the sword which Col. Miller purchased at . Poros, at the sale of the effects of Captain Loukas :- This sword I have seen in Lord Byron's possession, before he gave it to Loukas ; and I was present at Poros when it was sold. GEORGE FINLAY. Athens, 17 January, 1853.

Dr. Russ, who has already been men- tioned, and who is still living in New York, will also attest to all the material facts above presented.

The identity of this sword, which has an Asiatic inscription on the blade, with Byron's initial and a crown engraved on the hilt, is thus placed beyond a cavil.

Soon after his second return from Greece, Col. Miller came to Montpelier, and took up his permanent residence, passed through a regular course of legal studies, was ad- mitted to the bar, and opened a law office in the place in company with Nicholas Baylies, Esq.

In June, 1828, he married the daughter of Capt. Jonathan Arms, a capitalist. In 1830, '31 and '33, he was elected the rep- resentative of Berlin, within whose borders he was then residing with his father-in-law, Capt. Arms. During the session of the legislature of 1833, Col. Miller introduced the following resolution :

WHEREAS, slavery and the slave trade, as existing in the District of Columbia, are contrary to the broad declaration of our Bill of Rights, which declares that liberty is the inalienable right of all men; and whereas they are a national evil, disgrace and crime, which ought to be abolished ; and whereas the power of legislation for that District is with the Congress of these United States, therefore,

Resolved, the Governor and Council con- curring herein, that our Senators in Con- gress be directed, and representatives in Congress be requested, to use their en- deavors to effect the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia.

This preamble and resolution, which we have copied at large, not only because

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Col. Miller was the mover, but because they constituted the first anti-slavery move- ment in the legislature of Vermont, were, after lying on the table some weeks, called up by Mr. Miller, earnestly supported by him, and,-that being long before it was good policy for leading politicians to sup- · port anti-slavery resolutions,-opposed by Mr. Foot, of Rutland, who moved to dis- miss the resolution. The House, how- ever, refused to dismiss it, by 20 majority, but consented to refer it to the next ses- sion, when it was finally dismissed by 15 majority.

From about this time, however, Colonel Miller gave his almostundivided attentions and sympathies to the cause of anti- slavery, lecturing in all parts of the State, and not only bestowing his time and labors, but a large amount of money for its advancement. And it probably is not too much to say that no man ever did as much as Col. Miller, in building up the anti-slavery party of Vermont, and putting it on that onward march and steady in- crease, which raised it to a power that made it necessary for the dominant party, as a matter of self-preservation, to adopt its principles and take all its members into political fellowship.

In 1840, Col. Miller, one of the two Vermont delegates, attended the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, in London, where he appears to have been much noticed by Daniel O'Connell, Lord Brougham, and other leading men of the kingdom, to whom he had formerly become known by his championship of oppressed Greece. He took a prominent part in the debates of this celebrated convention. And, in glancing over the volume of its proceed- ings, published the next year in London, we are unable to perceive why his speeches do not honorably compare with the major- ity of those of the many very able men of whom that body was composed.

As a public speaker, Col. Miller was off-hand, bold and earnest, appearing more solicitous of bringing out his principles with effect, than of draping his thoughts with the graces of oratory. And in his manners in private life, he exhibited the

same characteristics by which he was known in all his public actions-a fearless utterance of his opinions, and a straight- forward, unstudied frankness, united with a soldierly bearing, which, with the af- fectedly refined, was considered as ap- proaching the borders of roughness. As a citizen, he was public-spirited, without vices, and benevolent to a proverb. He always had around him half a regiment of the poor, or poor tenants, who came not to pay him rents, but to obtain additional favors ; and the fact that both these classes continued to throng him through life is sufficient evidence that they never went away emptyhanded. He must have given away, during his residence in Montpelier, in private charities, in the furtherance of the anti-slavery cause, and in aidance of educational or benevolent institutions, the largest part of a handsome fortune, re- ceiving in return nothing but the good name he carried to his grave.

He died prematurely, in consequence of an accidental injury to his spine, Feb. 17, 1847, leaving a wife and one child, the daughter to whom we have before alluded, Mrs. Abijah Keith ; and he now sleeps on the boldest point of yonder Green Mount Cemetery, beneath the massive, square, rough granite obelisk, so typical, in many respects, of his Roman virtues and strong traits of character.

[Sarah Arms, the widow of Col. Miller, died in Chicago, Dec. 22, 1864, aged 76. Her remains were brought back to Mont- pelier, and interred in Green Mount Cem- etery, by the side of her renowned and honorable husband.]

HON. D. P. THOMPSON .- [For biograph- ical sketch of Mr. Thompson, see Berlin, page 69 of vol. Iv, this work.]

GEORGE ROBINSON THOMPSON,

was born at Montpelier, Jan. 3, 1834. He was the oldest son of the late Hon. Daniel P. Thompson. He fitted for col- lege at the Washington County Grammar School, and entered the University in 1849; graduating in 1853. He studied law at Montpelier, and was for two years clerk of the House of Representatives, and

Lucin B. Rick

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removed in 1856 to New York to practice his profession, where he acquired a good position. Mr. Thompson was a man of fine literary attainments and very social tastes. On the night of Feb. 6, 1871, on his way to Albany to argue a case before the Court of Appeals, he was instantly killed by a disaster to the train at New Hamburgh, N. Y. Mr. Thompson mar- ried a daughter of the late Dr. T. C. Tap- lin, of Montpelier, and left two children.

DANIEL G. THOMPSON, youngest son of the late Hon. D. P. Thompson, is now practising law in New York city; being the junior member of the legal firm of Jordan, Stiles & Thompson, the senior of which is Hon. Edward Jordan, late Solicitor of the Treasury.

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES.

HON. LUCIUS B. PECK,

Lawyer and Member of Congress, and forty years a resident of Montpelier.

ADDRESS OF B. F. FIFIELD, EsQ., By request of the Bar, read before the assembled Court,-His Honor, Asahel Peck, presiding.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT :

On the 28th day of December last, in a neighboring state, amid the friendless as- sociations of a strange city, Hon. LUCIUS B. PECK died of paralysis, in the 65th year of his age. On the 29th his remains were brought to his old home in Montpe- lier, and on the 30th, at the Pavilion Ho- tel, they were viewed with sorrow and re- gret by his old friends and fellow towns- men. On the 31st, at 4 o'clock, P. M., we attended his funeral in a body ; we heard pronounced the touching and impressive words of the Episcopal burial service ; we listened to the solemn chant of anthems breathing forth in melodious numbers consolation to the living and blessings up- on the dead, and as the lingering twilight of the departing year faded away in the west, we silently and mournfully followed the remains of him whom we respected and loved, and deposited them within the cold walls of the tomb.

To-night, in pursuance of a time-hon- ored custom, we meet to testify our respect for our eminent friend, and upon me has

been imposed the grateful duty, not to pronounce his euology, but to speak of those qualities of mind and heart which rendered him so popular with the Court, so respected by the public, so dear to us all.

Lucius B. Peck was the son of General John Peck, and was born in October, 1802, at Waterbury, in this county. He lived there until he was nineteen years of age, when, having finished a preparatory course, he was admitted as a cadet to the Military Academy at West Point, July 1, 1822, where he stayed one year. Although he was studious and scholarly, and took a high rank in his class, he was compelled to resign on account of ill health. His resignation was accepted Aug. 15, 1823. The following year, having regained his health, he entered the office of Hon. Sam- uel Prentiss as a student-at-law.

From those who were his fellow students, I learn that here he first began to develop those powers of clear discrimination and accurate judgment for which he was after- wards so much distinguished.

After about one year spent in laborious toil uuder the guiding hand of Judge Pren- tiss, he went into the office of Hon. Deni- son Smith of Barre, where he completed his studies and was admitted to the bar in this county at the September term, 1825.

He immediately formed a partnership with Mr. Smith, who, at this time, was ad- vanced in years, and with a large practice. The duties that this connection imposed upon Mr. Peck were arduous, but exceed- ingly beneficial. He felt these responsi- bilities and labored like a Hercules to be equal to them. His modesty of manner excited sympathy, and his clearness of mind challenged attention. While the old clients of Mr. Smith at first naturally doubted his untried hand, acquaintance soon begot familiarity, and familiarity con- fidence, and in a few years, we find Mr. Peck in the full tide of successful practice in Orange and Washington counties.

So great was the confidence of the pub- lic, that at this early age, soon after he commenced practice, he was sent to the Legislature as the representative of Barre.

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Though he talked little, he always talked well. His deference to the opinions of others was always marked, and generally he found greater pleasure in being an at- tentive listener than a noisy debator.

About 1827, Mr. Smith died, and soon afterwards Mr. Peck removed to Montpe- lier, and continued the practice of law here from that time till the time of his death. From the time Mr. Peck removed to Mont- ier his practice was constantly increasing. He began to be generally known over the State ; in Orange county, he was engaged in almost every case.

Dillingham, Upham and Collamer also practiced there,-all men of superior abil- ity. Pitted against each other their wits were sharpened and the traces always kept tight. The sharp retort, the fiery sarcasm, the nervous energy of Mr. Upham found their match in the cool, deliberate, mental power of Mr. Peck; they were generally matched against each other.

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The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 75

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press Number of Pages: 1064

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064